Research Material

Artwork Verso

This view of the back of
Erased de Kooning Drawing
shows the following inscription, written in heavy black: “DO NOT REMOVE DRAWING FROM FRAME.
FRAME
IS
PART
OF
DRAWING.
” A studio assistant added the note at Rauschenberg’s behest, likely just before the work toured with the 1976 exhibition
Robert Rauschenberg
(October 30, 1976–January 15, 1978). The myriad
museum, gallery, and shipping labels
scattered across the back of the piece testify to its extensive international exhibition history.